"smoking"

Dear Andrew

Your observations on the current position as to a prevalence of smoking at main entrance to Lincoln County Hospital is acknowledged.

Periodically there have been instances of increased smoking despite both the notices to which you refer, and to the existence of designated smoking points across the whole site.

The Trust has a Smoking Policy in place which is due for review. Locally on the Lincoln Site the increased incidence of smoking such as you describe has been raised with Hospital Managers to consider a practical and pragmatic response to addressing this.

Whilst signage is in place, our managing smoking is also about the messages and positive direction given to patient and visitors in wards and clinics regards the site Smoking Policy. We employ a single Security/Car Park person during days; their constant reminding smokers and pointing out the arrangements in place is at best not practical. It requires promotion of changed behaviour through the wider hospital community.

Your constructive criticism is then helpful and timely at this point in raising the need for effective controls and compliance arrangements to be in place. I am sorry for the experience you detailed to us but thank you for taking time to raise this with us. Your comments will be used to inform further effective means which may be taken to address the problem of smoking other that at designated control points.

John Wilson

Facilities Manager, Lincoln County Hospital